Misread
>>With that in mind, you're advised to approach the list below with extreme caution.
>>Before you do, a couple of points.
I read this as 'Before you do, a couple of pints.'
and its Monday morning.
Posts by Matt
28 publicly visible posts • joined 30 May 2007
Story withdrawn
Microsoft preps IE 8 for the web-challenged
Friday 5th December 2008 17:01 GMT 
Think about it guys
n.b. If you are in the least bit techie this will be too simple for you, so just go straight to the next post.
Most people seem to get it (but want a moan anyway - fair enough I may join you!) but some people seem to forget: Most websites have different code depending on what web browser you are running (Usually small stuff in css). This tends to be standards compliant code for FF etc and 'broken' code for IE, which IE would then display correctly.
So the people who say that sites look the same in IE7 and FF, so IE8 is to blame are missing the point, they may look the same but are using different code. IE8 comes along, the website gives it the 'broken' code, and it doesn't know how to show it, where as IE7 did.
The problem is when the IE specific code was written it only check that the user was running IE, but didn't look at the version (I mean come-on, how many of us thought IE would ever be standards compliant?)
I was going to suggest the easiest solution would be to change the useragent to something else (no not FF, but something unique) but then reaslised that that would break all the sites that are currently IE only! (Plus this would only work if IE8 *really* is standards compliant!)
I can't think of any easy way to solve this (other than don't release IE 8) I thinks its just a case of release it, wait for the uptake and websites will gradually change.
As others have noted it will be painful, but in the end will be a good thing. (If only people would stop using really outdated versions!)
Teen hacker confesses three-year crime spree
UK's 'secure' child protection database will be open to one million
Hotmail users bitch and moan about new interface
Friday 7th November 2008 14:25 GMT 
Dont like it
My main complaint about hotmail is is the fact that the new look is shit. and it keeps 'swallowing' legitimate emails, not even putting them in the junk folder.
My two main complaints about hotmail is fact that the new look is shit and it keeps 'swallowing' legitimate emails, not even putting them in the junk folder. and increasing amounts of junk mail keeps making it to me inbox.
My three...
Noel Edmonds defies BBC's jackbooted enforcers
Microsoft's IE 8 puts giant web hole on notice
Woman finds Lithuanian living in shed
Mobe operators warn of ruin if regulators set roaming charges
Jacqui Smith kick-starts yoof ID debate site, site kick stops
Random number bug blights FreeBSD
Second jellyfish pack moves on UK
Animal rights activist hit with RIPA key decrypt demand
Disability law can protect alcoholic workers
Monday 19th November 2007 10:21 GMT 
choosing disability?
Does that mean someone in a wheelchair isn't disabled because they chose to cross the road without looking?
Not looking to start a flame war but there is a major difference between someone who chooses to have a drink / get drunk and someone who is addicted to / dependant upon alcohol!
I don't think addictions are disabilities but (effectively) saying you choose to become an alcoholic is just plain ridiculous!
With one bound, Apple is free of 54 security bugs
Friday 16th November 2007 10:09 GMT 
re: Don't "journalists" get fired for such BS?
>> Next, the trojan requires the user to enter his admin password. Yeah, that's really a port trojan. *shakes head*
err isn't that *exactly* what a trojan is? a piece of software that convinces you to run it (usually with admin privs) and then does something other than what it claims (usually bad)?
How was the article in any way 'bs' or unethical?
This seems to be a typical fanboi post: When Windows has a problem it's because Microsoft is crap ... when OSX has the same problem its because the user is stupid (hang on maybe that last bit's not so inaccurate...)
Sierra Leone launches 'Operation Wash Lunatics'
Italian court rules against HP on pre-installed Windows
Tuesday 30th October 2007 16:01 GMT 
re: What?
The EULA is for each piece of software, you have to agree to each EULA separately (I.E. they you can agree to one and not the other) and it sounds like they refused to refund for users returning some software in accordance with its EULA. It seems simple enough to me and apparently the judge agrees.
Good to see a judge making a sensible decision, even if they are Italian!
World's most gullible supermarket chain falls victim to online scam
UK small biz pleads with gov for more support
The first rule of Reg Club is...
Ex-astronaut offers apologies, Huggies to 'love-rival'
Behind the Apple vs Universal breakup
Wednesday 18th July 2007 11:02 GMT
Audio Home Recording Act
When refering to law can you please state which country it is from? The Audio Home Recording Act is a peice of American legislation but you don't mention this, remember this is primarily a Brit site, but it is read by people from all over the world so please bear this is mind when writing atricles for El Reg!
Ta
BBC Trust to hear open sourcers' iPlayer gripes
Friday 13th July 2007 16:53 GMT
Re: 92% do not use Windows *XP* (but 8% do?)
"(Incidentally, for anyone under the suspicion that there is someone with a split personality disorder posting, here there are actually two seperate "Matt"s.)" - No there isn't - I'm in your head.
I agree that the BBC should not be in the business of forcing one choice over the other, but you must recognise that they are limited to their choice by legal obligations, and they have chosen the way they believe gets the service, in a legal manner, to the greatest number of people.
A number of people have said scrap DRM because it is easily possible to get the latest Dr Who HD episode DRM free, but just because it is possible (to do so illegally) doesn't mean you should also expect the BBC to behave in such a manner.
The whole argument appears to boil down to this:
BBC: We are trailing this way of letting approx. 80% of licence fee holders download some of our content.
Linux/Mac Users: But we want it too!
BBC: I know, and we will keep trying but can't atm because of DRM issues on your OSs.
L/M: We want it DRM free!
BBC: Err, thing is we have legal obligations so we need DRM
L/M: WANT WANT WANT!
BBC: Sorry kids, what can I say? Its got to have DRM
L/M: Well I can d/l a better quality verson DRM free anyway, so I wouldn't use your iPlayer anyway. neyah!
BBC: Well that is illegal, and while people may look the other way when a few home users do that if we, a large corporation closely allied to the UK Govt who we rely on for funding, were to do the same, it may have more serious repercussions, so you see its not really quite as simple as just giving all of this content away!
L/M: Its the principle at stake, we want it now, and for free!
BBC: As we said before, we are restricted by our legal obligations but will try…
L/M: U R the EViL, BBC Suxors, U R in bed with micro$oft!!!1
Bill Gates (Possibly in some kind of darkened room, with his fingers pressed together Mr Burns stylee): Excellent!
(this is how it happened in my head)
Friday 13th July 2007 15:08 GMT
92% do not use Windows *XP*
Mah apologies,
81% then.
Obv, this is only as recorded by thecounter.com (which I would think gives a better x-section of users than w3schools!), and is International stats, not just the UK.
p.s. They also list Firefox as holding steady at about 12-13%, quite a far cry from w3schools 33ish% (w3schools tends to have more technically minded ppl who also tend to vary their choice of browser)
Friday 13th July 2007 10:26 GMT
Most of these comments are missing the point
When you pay your licence fee you are paying for the right to receive the (various) BBC broadcasts, It is no longer your money, you do not get to specify how it is spent (there are various oversight groups to do this - not you!) When a program is broadcast you have the right to view it or record it and watch it once later (I believe this is correct) you do not have the right to watch it repeatedly forever. (If you later buy it on DVD you can obviously watch it as much as you want!)
If you have a computer connected to the internet it is not required to be covered by a TV licence unless you intend to use it to watch TV (remember workplaces buying licences for the world cup?)
If the beeb wants to make programmes available over the web (and it does, if you disagree with this stance then complain to the BBC, leaving comments on el reg etc demanding licence fee refunds makes you sound like a petulant child) then it is required to use some form of DRM to protect the copyright holders.
No DRM isn't perfect but it will dissuade most, and anyone who puts the effort into breaking it knows they are breaking the law and may be punished accordingly. Just because it can be broken doesn't mean its pointless (Your house can probably be easily broken in to, but I bet you close your windows and lock the door before you go out, don't you?)
Under the licence fee you are not guaranteed the right to access these internet broadcasts (possible exception: if the broadcast is exclusively internet based - I don’t know) Therefore Alexander Hanff’s comment 'It doesn't matter a crap if it is broadcast TV or not, I pay for it, therefore I have the right to access it, period.' is incorrect as is his statement 'They are the facts, whether you like it or not.'.
Remember this is only beta and they have chosen to first roll out the service to the 90% odd of people who can receive it (reasoning: http://www.thecounter.com/stats/2007/July/os.php, about 92% of people use windows, therefore have access to IE, therefore can use this service). This makes sense people, they have a duty to do the best they can for the most licence fee payers. I am willing to bet that the BBC has done their research while looking into the possibility of providing these *extra* services on Linux and Mac and they have not ruled out either, just said not yet, because they are limited by their legal obligations.
If the OSC does take them to eurocourt and this is branded anti-competitive then the beeb will probably withdraw the service altogether, and we all lose.
Friday 13th July 2007 10:26 GMT
We're not all trolls
And to some of the earlier posters, just because somebody disagrees with you does not make them a troll / microsoft employee.
If you label someone a troll this does not mean you get to ignore their comments, esp if they raise a good point that you don't have an argument against (this is not just limited to this thread).
Also if someone has a good point, but it is illistrated with poor examples then just ripping their examples apart does not invalidate their point (presuming some good examples exist...)
and finally thread this is about the BBC's iPlayer (from what I hear is a POS anyway) only running on windows during its beta release. It is not Windows vs. Linux, no one cares which OS you think is best. Not here anyways.
Tesco's old timers get yoof slang pamphlet
Wednesday 30th May 2007 17:58 GMT
Typical moaning from the old farts
The English language has, lets face it, always changed, and it always will and for this reason there is no such thing as speaking properly, old words die, new ones are created all the time! (http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/quiz for example) Do you think 100 years ago the way you speak you have been considered 'proper', of course not!
Language changes for a number or reasons: regional dialects merging / immigration / exposure to other cultures, getting around limitations of the language, adapting to new mediums (IM / Text speak) and of course identity / community (ghetto or 'leet speak (back in the '90s)), or just because people hear a new word and they like it!
Although it may be true that with the spread of globalisation that this is speeding up / more noticeable.
But it seems to most of the people on this site anyone under the age of 30 who speaks differently is a lazy, self-absorbed, low achieving criminal, then complain about a lack of respect! (Do you post a lot on HYS on the beeb? If not you should take a look, I think you'd like it)
Kinda (slang alert!) reminds me of Family Guy:
"Hey, why do you cops always have to harsh our buzz?"
"He used a teenage colloquialism; Break out the tear gas."
But as noted by other posts the idea of a single guide to lazy-drunk-violent-yoof-speak is fundementally flawed as, guess what, different groups of lazy-drunk-violent-yoofs speak differently!
Although I do love the idea of the daughters making up words - Trying to remember the Blackadder episode where he met the guy who compiled the first dictionary!
Biting the hand that feeds IT
